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Money Matters
Cancer care is very
expensive, and the prospect of paying for the treatments you need may seem
overwhelming. Mountain Laurel Center staff are available to inform you about
Medicaid, Medicare, insurance issues, and various financial programs that are
available to people with cancer. (Please note that the Mountain Laurel Center
itself does not provide financial assistance.)
Cancer Information
The Mountain Laurel Center has a
variety of information resources to help you learn more about cancer. Available
resources include our CancerHelp Computer, the Mountain Laurel Center's Cancer
Resource Library, and access to Internet resources. Cancer patients, survivors,
loved ones, and community members are welcome to visit the center and take
advantage of these resources Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pm. Volunteers
and staff are available to assist you if you need help finding the information
you need. If you are unable to visit the Mountain Laurel Center, you can also
call 523.4202 (or 800.252.6362) to request information, and we will mail
a packet to you. There is no charge for any of the Mountain Laurel
Center's information services.
The
CancerHelp Computer -
An easy-to-use, comprehensive database containing all
the most up-to-date information on cancer treatments, medications, screening,
prevention, and research, as well as information on coping with cancer,
cancer-related organizations, and other information. The CancerHelp System is
accessed through the use of a touch-screen monitor, and utilizes a series of
menus to allow anyone to find information in the database quickly and easily,
regardless of his/her level of knowledge about computers. Volunteers are
available to help you find the information you need on CancerHelp. For more
information about the CancerHelp System, click here. To set up a specific appointment to
come and learn how to use CancerHelp, or to request that a CancerHelp search be
mailed to you, contact Leigh Ann Bolinskey
at 276.523.4202 (email
lkennedy@meoc.org).
Cancer Resource Library -
The
Mountain Laurel Center has a collection of up-to-date pamphlets, books, videos,
and other media available for visitors to peruse. For more information
about print and video resources available at the Mountain Laurel Center, contact
Leigh Ann Bolinskey at 276.523.4202
(email lkennedy@meoc.org)
Internet Resources -
The
Mountain Laurel Center offers quick, simplified access to reliable cancer
information and support resources available on the World Wide Web. Volunteers
are available to help you if you need assistance finding the information you
need.
Nutrition and Meal Planning
- You may sometimes find it difficult to eat while undergoing cancer
treatment. The Mountain Laurel Center offers a workshop on nutrition and cancer
as part of our "Tools for Living With Cancer" educational series. You
may also be eligible for MEOC Nutrition Services to include meals or liquid
nutrition products.
Prescription Drug Assistance
- The cost of cancer medications is
often very high. The Mountain Laurel Center can help you connect with various
programs that may offer help getting your prescription medications at reduced or
no cost.
Transportation
- Transportation is available locally through Mountain Empire Transit,
the public transit system for ALL AGES provided by MEOC, and throughout the
surrounding area through the Mountain Laurel Center's Cancer Patient Navigator
volunteer program. There is a small charge for transportation via Mountain
Empire Transit, based on a rider's age.
Public
transit charges are 75¢ per boarding for persons age 60+ and under 18 ; $1.50
per boarding for all others.
In
Our Community:
Caring Hearts Women's Support Group
- A cancer support group for the women of Southwest Virginia, founded by local
resident Mary Turner. Caring Hearts meets at 6.30 pm on the 2nd Monday of
each month in the Baptist Student Union at The University of Virginia's College
at Wise. For more information, contact Mary Turner at
276.679.2540.
Lenowisco
Health District - Health Departments in Lee, Wise, and Scott
Counties provide free screenings for breast and cervical cancer, by appointment.
For more information, or to schedule a screening, contact Heather Horne
at 276.386.1312 or 276.328.8000.
Lee
Regional Medical Center - Lee County's regional hospital is
located in Pennington Gap, VA. For More information, visit their website at the
link above, or call 276.546.1440.
Life's Circle Cancer Storytelling
Performance - A collection of oral histories about Wise County individuals'
and families' experiences with cancer, woven together into an inspirational
presentation by and for regional communities. Life's Circle has been showcased
at health conferences in Richmond, VA, and at the Meadowview Convention Center
in Kingsport, TN. For more information or to find out about the next performance
of Life's Circle, contact Life's Circle member Kim Cole at 276.762.3953
or via email at lifescircle@hotmail.com.
Look
Good, Feel Better - A national program, sponsored by the
Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance association, dedicated to helping women
undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments overcome the appearance-related
side effects associated with cancer treatment. Trained volunteers offer guidance
and instruction to women in a supportive environment, helping them regain their
confidence and self-esteem. For more information, visit their website at the
link above, or contact Sharon Hall locally at 276.523.0891, or
nationally, call 1.800.395.LOOK.
Mountain
Empire Older Citizens - An area agency on aging and public
transit provider, MEOC is a non-profit organization serving the people of
Southwest Virginia. MEOC provides services, support, information, and programs
that assist older persons and their families. In addition, MEOC offers several
support services to disadvantaged or differently abled persons of all ages and
their families. The Mountain Laurel Center is currently housed at MEOC's offices
in Big Stone Gap, VA. For more information about MEOC, visit their website at
the link provided above, or call 276.523.4202 locally or 800.252.6362.
Norton
Community Hospital - A private, not-for-profit hospital located
in Norton, VA. For more information, visit their website at the link above, or
call 276.679.8953.
Reach to Recovery -
A service
which provides one-on-one visitation for women with breast cancer who have had,
or will have, a lumpectomy or mastectomy. The visit is made by a carefully
selected and trained breast cancer survivor, who will bring each patient a Reach
kit, which includes a leisure bra, a soft prosthesis for mastectomy patients,
exercise items, literature, and local resource information. The volunteer shares
her experiences and offer support to patients at a time of need. For more
information, contact Paulette Hale at 276.679-3591.
Southwest Virginia Regional Cancer
Center -
Providing quality cancer care to the people of
Southwest Virginia, Southwest Virginia Regional Cancer Center offers
chemotherapy, radiation therapy, laboratory services, gynecological oncology
consultation, continuing medical education, and access to new therapies being
researched at major cancer centers. SWVA Regional Cancer Center also provides free
cervical cancer screenings in April, skin cancer screenings in May,
and prostate cancer screenings in September. For more information, call
276.679.5874.
Mountain
View Regional Medical Center -
Mountain View Regional Medical
Center's OB/GYN Department participates in the American Cancer Society's Breast
and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. This program provides free breast
and cervical cancer screenings to women who meet the following criteria: 1) are
legal residents of the U.S., 2) live in Virginia, 3) have income equivalent to
200% of the federal poverty level or less, 4) have no insurance at all, and 5)
are 50 years old or older. For more information, please ccall
276.679.3500.
Wellmont
Lonesome Pine Hospital - Located in Big Stone Gap, VA, Lonesome
Pine Hospital is a Wellmont Health System facility. For more information, visit
Wellmont's website at the link above, or call 276.523.3111.
On the
Internet:
Mesothelioma
Attorney Advice Center -The
Mesothelioma Attorney Advice Center has been providing users with asbestos and
mesothelioma related information since 1995, and currently has several
pages of information for mesothelioma patients and family members.
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